Four potential pitchers who could potentially fill Miles Mikolas' spot in the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation
The St. Louis Cardinals, a mid-market team, are facing a crucial decision in their rotation as they consider replacing Miles Mikolas, a two-time All-Star who has struggled this season.
Mikolas, who has posted a 5.11 ERA in 22 starts this year, has been a disappointment for the Cardinals. His last outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers was particularly poor, as he allowed five earned runs, three home runs, and struck out only one batter in three innings.
The team's options to replace Mikolas primarily involve promoting from within the organization. Relief pitcher Kyle Leahy, who started the 2025 season strongly, is a natural candidate to step into a starting role for the remainder of the season. Other promising young starters include Andre Pallante and Genesis Cabrera, who have impressed in their limited major league experience.
Jon Lester, a veteran pitcher, could provide stability and leadership to the young rotation, while also offering a solid pitching performance. Jake Woodford, a right-handed pitcher who has spent most of his career in the minor leagues, has shown promise when called up to the majors.
The Cardinals have expressed intent to give younger pitchers more opportunities as they rebuild. Prospects like Quinn Mathews are also seen as deserving a rotation spot over Mikolas.
However, the sunk cost fallacy may prevent the Cardinals from giving valuable time to young players eager to make their first impression. This concept in behavioral finance and psychology refers to an individual's tendency to continue with something due to previously invested resources. The Cardinals have fallen for this fallacy with the cases of Miles Mikolas and Erick Fedde, who was traded to the Atlanta Braves, freeing the Cardinals from that contract.
Keeping players with negative value on the roster can harm the fanbase's impression of the team. The sunk cost fallacy is evident in the Cardinals' inability to cut lengthy contracts, such as those of Dexter Fowler, Mike Leake, and Matt Carpenter.
Meanwhile, position players Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera have taken advantage of the 2025 season to establish themselves as regulars in the lineup. Michael McGreevy, one of the club's best pitchers, took four full months to gain a rotation spot despite his impressive performance.
As the Cardinals push to move on from Mikolas during the 2025 season, they are considering potential replacement options. Young pitchers have not been given a fair chance in the rotation, with Mikolas and Erick Fedde taking up spots that could have been given to more promising pitchers. The team's future in the pitching department may lie in promoting from within and giving opportunities to their promising young talents.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3]
[1] The Cardinals, despite struggling with the sunk cost fallacy, are considering replacing Miles Mikolas, a two-time All-Star, who has been underperforming this season. His poor performance, such as the five earned runs he allowed against the Los Angeles Dodgers, has highlighted the need for change.
[2] In the quest for a suitable replacement, the Cardinals are looking at young, promising pitchers like Andre Pallante, Genesis Cabrera, and Kyle Leahy, who have shown potential in their limited major league experience. Jon Lester, with his veteran experience and solid pitching performance, could also provide stability to the young rotation.
